I'm doing a second grade lesson right now that is working fantastically
with 2 classes and nicely with the third.

First, I had them draw a parrot on practice paper, telling them just to
do the best they could without looking at any examples.

Then, we looked at photographs of parrots of all kinds. We really
studied them and spent time discussing their attributes.

Next, I had them draw a parrot again. They, of course, were better.

Now we are drawing them again with me leading them step by step on the
whiteboard. We've drawn several different kinds and they are amazed at
how well they can draw!

Finally, we are going to draw them lightly with pencil on paper painted
with black tempera. They must make it large, but they can draw any
position they want, any number of parrots they want, and background
foliage. After that, they will draw over their with oil pastels.